No. 10 Buckeyes Top Michigan to Advance to ALC Semifinals

EVANSTON, ILL. – Led by the Facchina sisters, the No. 2 seed Ohio State lacrosse team defeated No. 7 seed Michigan, 12-8, in the quarterfinals of the ALC Tournament Thursday night at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill. The tenth-ranked Buckeyes (13-5, 4-2 ALC) will now play host and No. 3 seed Northwestern (11-5, 3-3 ALC) at 7:00 p.m. CT Friday.

Offensively, junior midfielder Mary Kate Facchina had a career night, posting a career-high six points on five goals and an assist, while sister and senior attack Cara Facchina posted four points on a pair of goals and two assists. The two sisters combined for 10 points vs. the Maize and Blue and were a part of nine of the team's 12 goals under the lights on the shore of Lake Michigan.

After the Wolverines struck first, the Buckeyes netted five-consecutive goals in a 13-minute span to take a 5-1 lead. Dabrowski won a draw and wrapped around the net for an unassisted score at 29:10 to tie it, 1-1. Porretto then found the back of the cage at 27:06 for her 27th goal of the year assisted by Mary Kate Facchina. The Buckeyes made it a two-goal game when Ayers found a cutting Dabrowski in the crease for the score at 25:58.

Mary Kate Facchina garnered back-to-back goals at 20:04 and 16:37, respectively. She was assisted by Keselman on her first goal before the Facchina sisters combined for the team's fifth goal at 16:37 following a pass behind net by Cara Facchina. The native of Glenwood, Md., Mary Kate Facchina is now second on the team with 31 goals in 2014.

After Michigan scored two goals, the Facchina sisters were then part of the next two OSU goals. Cara Facchina notched her seventh goal of the season at 9:18 assisted by Ayers followed by Mary Kate Facchina, who claimed the hat trick at 7:16 with help from Cifarelli.

Hodgson got in on the OSU goals' column, scoring just before half when she netted her fourth goal of the season on the near side with two seconds remaining in the first – assisted by Dabrowski. At half, shots were 15-10 in favor of the Scarlet and Gray.

After half, the Facchina sisters continued the Ohio State momentum. Mate Kate Facchina boasted her fourth of the night at 24:07 with a low shot in net following a pass by Dabrowski to extend the lead to 9-4. Just two minutes later, Cara Facchina fired in her second of the evening at 22:00 with help from Ayers – her third assist vs. the Wolverines.

A bounce shot by Cifarelli found net at 12:02 with assist from Cara Facchina to make it 11-5. Mary Kate Facchina then tied her career high in goals with her fifth score after she sent a bullet of a shot at 10:10, beating the UM keeper for the Buckeyes' final goal. Dabrowski earned her second assist of the night on the play.

Overall, Ohio State led in shots 24-22, while holding a 13-8 lead in draw controls. The contest vs. the Wildcats tomorrow night will be streamed on BTN.com. Earlier this year, the Buckeyes defeated Northwestern, 11-10, in overtime in Columbus.

Before the start of the contest vs. the Wolverines, DeScenza, Cifarelli, Katie Chase and Taylor Donahue were recognized by the ALC for their 2014 conference awards.